Rivet



March 9, 1943. J. w. BoWERsox 2,313,616

RIVET Original Filed Jan. 22, 1937 i 5 5 -leg v A ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 9, 1943 RIVET Joseph Wallace Bowersox, Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Original application January 22, 1937, Serial No. 121,740. Divided andthis application December 22, 1939, Serial No. 310,488

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a new and improved rivet and hasparticular reference to a rivet adapted for blind tufting mattresses,cushions, automobile seats, davenports and other upholstered articleswhere tufting is desirable, and adapted also for securing various kindsof materials together, such, for example, as paper files andsuperimposed layers of fabric or leather.

One of the objects of the present invention resides in the provision ofa novel rivet which is capable of being inserted through the material tobe tufted or fastened without unnecessarily cutting or injuring thematerial and without necessarily providing a preformed hole to receivethe rivet.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side view of a tufting deviceby means of which a rivet embodying the features of my invention isadapted to be inserted through the material and clinched.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View on an enlarged scale of thedevice taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and illustrating one step in thetufting operation.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating another step in theoperation.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one form of rivet or tufting elementadapted for use with the device and embodying the features of myinvention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the shape of the rivet ortufting element after the tufting operation.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a modified form of rivet or tuftingelement.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a modified form of awl forming part ofthe tufting device, and adapted for use with the rivet or element ofFig. 6.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, I have shown in the drawing and will hereindescribe in detail the preferred embodiments, but it is to be understoodthat I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specificforms disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the tufting device shown isespecially adapted for mattresses With a resilient core, such asinnerspring mattresses having multiple-ply quilted top and bottomportions, but it will be evident that the device may be usedadvantageously on many other upholstered articles, such as cushions,pads and seats, Where tufting is desired, or generally for quilting twoor more layers of material where one side is not convenientlyaccessible. To illustrate the tufting operation, a section of thequilted wall of an inner-spring mattress is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Thismattress wall section comprises a relatively thick layer II ofcompressible padding material such as cotton, an outer fabric tick orcovering I2, and an inner fabric lining I3. It will be understood thatthe lining I3 is not accessible from the exterior since mattressescustomarily are fully closed before being tufted.

The tufting device comprises an awl or needle I4 having an elongatedstem I5, and a sharply pointed head I6 on one end of .the stern andadapted to be forced through the mattress wall from the exteriorto theinterior. The pointed head I6 may be provided in any suitable form, andis herein shown as tapered, with a triangular tip and a hexagonal base,to define longitudinal edges facilitating lpenetration of the mattressWall by the awl I4. The base of the awl head IB is larger than the stemI5 so as to define an outwardly facing transverse shoulder I1.

The tufting device also comprises a suitable hollow body I8 in which theawl stem I5 is operatively mounted. In the present instance, the body I8has van end wall I9 formed with a tubular extension 20 which constitutesa riveting abutment, and formed with an axial bore 2I in which the awlstem I5 is slidably disposed. The body I8 also has a transverse -wall 22connected by spaced .parallel side members 23 to the wall I9, and formedwith a guide bore 24 aligned with the bore 2| and slidably receiving anactuating plunger 25 in one end of which the awl stem I5 is removablysecured.

The awl I4 may be reciprocated by any suitable means, and is especiallyadapted for manual actuation. To this end, a stop collar 26 is formed onone end of the plunger 25, and a coiled compression spring 21 isdisposed about the plunger in end abutment .with the collar and the wall22. It will be evident that the spring 21 tends to hold the collar 26against the wall I9, and thereby to maintain the awl I4 in its outermostposition of movement. A finger grip` 28 secured to the outer end of theplunger 25 affords means for moving the awl I4 against the action of thespring 21. The body I8 has a hand grip 29 to facilitate use of thetufting device and manipulation of the finger grip 28 with one hand.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, the tufting element constituting theexemplary embodiment of the invention is in the form of a metal rivet 30having a tubular shank 3| with a head 32 rigid on one end. The other endportion of the shank 3| is formed with a plurality of longitudinal slots33 dening peripherally spaced arms or prongs 34 pointed at their freeends. The prongs 34 are weakened intermediate their ends, and preferablyalso at their junctures with the' solid portion f the shank 3|, as bymeans of notches 35 and 36 to dene transverse points of bend.

In use, the rivet 30 is slipped over the awl point I5 onto the shank |5,the ends of the prongs 34 exing outwardly and then snapping inwardlyinto abutment with the shoulder 1. The length of the awl shank |5 issuch that when the collar 26 engages the wall I9 the rivet'head 32 isclosely adjacent the abutment 20, and the length of the nonslittedportion of the rivet shank 3| is approximately equal to the compressedthickness of H the mattress wall after tufting. Where the material to betufted or quilted is of"'a"diiferent thickness, an awl 4 and rivet30 ofcorresponding lengths may be substituted. Initially, the ends of theprongs 34 are bent slightly about the notches 35, as illustrated inFigs. 2 and 4, so as to conform to the taper of the awl point I6 and tofacilitate clinching.

The awl I4 with the rivet 3D thereon is now inserted through themattress wall, thereby forming a hole 3S snugly embracing the shank 3|.It will be seen that the prongs 34 byreason of their engagement with theshoulderv llare guided by the awl point I6 without interference throughthe mattresswall as shown in Fig. 2. vPressure is now applied throughthe mediumlo-f the abutment against the head 32 of the rivet 30, andthereby against the outer surface ofthe mattress Wall to compress thelatter approximately to the length of the solid portion of theishank'3|; In this step, the lining |3 and the inside of the mattress wall,which is supported bythe mattress core, remains substantially flat.While the mattress wall is held compressed, the awl |4 is pulledoutwardly relatively to the body I8 by means of the nger grip 28, and inthe course of this movement, the shoulder acting"against the ends of theprongs 34 clinches the latter by bending them radially outwardly at thekweakened junctures and back on themselves at the notches 35. After therivet 30 is clinched, the awl |4 may be withdrawn through the shank 3|,the ends of the prongs 24 slipping over the shoulder I'I as illustratedin Fig. 3. VWhen the tufting device is removed, relieving the pressureon the rivet 3U, the head 32 and the bent prongs 34 retain the mattresswallunder compression, and the pull of the tick l2 results in flexure ofthe lining |3 to complete and center the tuft.

It will be evident that the tuft does not require more than oneperforation of the mattress wall in which it is secured, nor perforationof the opposed mattress wall,`as where a double `end needle is employed,and hence avoids unnecessary cutting of the tick. Also, the tuft isselfcontained in one wall, instead' of extending completely through themattress, and hence will not pull out by reason of tension on the tickwhen the mattress is bent. The tuft is held securely in place and thetufting element when in the form of a tubular rivet 3D as shownconstitutes a ventilating eyelet. The tufting device permits easy andconvenient clinching of the rivet from one side of the mattress, and ingeneral results in a substantial saving in time, labor and expense.

A modified form of tufting rivet 33a is illustrated in Fig. 6. The rivet30a has a head 32, and a plurality of wire prongs 34a, four being shown.To define the points of bend, the prongs 34a are bent inwardly at 35e,and preferably are bent outwardly slightly at 36a. If desired, the shankI5 of the awl I4 may be formed adjacent the shoulder with longitudinalgrooves 3'| (see Fig. 7) in which the end portions of the prongs 34a areadapted to rest.

It will be evident that I have provided a novel rivet or tufting elementfor quickly, conveniently and securely tufting upholstered articles. Therivet is particularly useful for blind tufting, where one side isinaccessible or not visible. In general, the rivet may also be adaptedfor securing various kinds of materials together, for example, paperfiles and superimposed layers of fabric or leather.

VThis application is a division of my copending application Serial No.121,740, filed January 22, 1937, for Rivet setting device which issuedas Patent No. 2,205,772.

I claim as my invention:

l. A rivet comprising, in combination, a head, and a plurality oflaterally spaced wires constituting prongs secured to said head, eachwire being bent outwardly at one longitudinal point and inwardly atanother longitudinal point to dene lines of bend when said rivet isplaced under longitudinal compression, said prongs being resilient andadapted to spread and contract upon insertion of a shouldered awl usedfor creating such longitudinal compression.

2. A rivet having a tubular shank, an annular head rigid with andencircling one end of said shanka plurality of peripherally spacedyieldable prongs integral with and extending longitudinally from theother end of said shank, said prongs being weakened at their respectivepoints of juncture with said shank and also being weakened intermediatetheir ends, the free ends of said prongs being tapered and also beingbent to converge at their ends.

' 3. A rivet, comprising in combination, a head, and a plurality ofspaced wires constituting prongs secured to said head, each wire beingbent outwardly at one longitudinal point and inwardly at anotherlongitudinal point to dene lines of bend when said rivet is placed underlongitudinal compression, said other longitudinal point being slightlycloser to the free end of said wire than to said one longitudinal point,said wires being resilient and adapted to be spread by a shouldered -awland to contract over the shoulder of said awl after movement thereofpast the free ends of said wires.

JOSEPH WALLACE BOWERSOX.

